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Bar 1661 in Dublin has been ranked among the world’s top drinking venues, placing at No.98 on an annual global list and becoming the first venue from the Republic of Ireland to appear on that compilation. The recognition marks a notable moment for the capital’s cocktail scene.
International accolade from The 50 Best
The list is produced by The 50 Best, an organisation that publishes definitive rankings for restaurants, bars, hotels and vineyards. Its bar rankings are decided by an independent academy of more than 800 industry experts and have been published since 2009.
Bar 1661 was included among 100 bars on the latest list and has also been nominated to compete for a place in The 50 Best Bars 2026. The awards ceremony will be held in Milan, where the team will attend on 7 October to receive the official No.98 placement.
A local bar with a national first
Located on Dublin’s Northside in the Dublin 7 area, Bar 1661 opened in 2019 near Capel Street. Its appearance on the global list makes it the first bar or restaurant from the Republic of Ireland to gain that annual recognition.
The venue’s owner, Dave Mulligan, described the inclusion as a major achievement for both his team and the wider Irish hospitality and cocktail community. He highlighted the role of traditional Irish spirit in the bar’s global profile.
Poitín at the centre of the menu
Bar 1661 has built a reputation around the use of Irish poitín. Since 2019 it has showcased spirits from producers including Bán, Mad March Hare, Micil, Killowen and Ardara, alongside smaller artisan makers such as Valentia Island Vermouth and Kinsale Mead.
More than half the drinks on the bar’s signature menu, titled We Call This Power, feature poitín, and management says a new menu will expand that focus further.
Industry recognition at home and abroad
The bar holds two PINS from The Pinnacle Guide, each denoting an “Exceptional” rating—the only venue in the Republic to do so. Internationally, it has been named among the top cocktail menus by the Spirited Awards in consecutive years.
Domestically, Bar 1661 has won Ireland’s Bar of the Year twice, claimed Cocktail Bar of the Year seven times at the Bar of the Year Awards, and taken Best Cocktail Experience twice at the Food & Wine Awards. Those honours underline the venue’s standing within Ireland’s hospitality sector.
